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“Oh, hush, you.” His mother waved a dismissing hand. “That is a blatant lie.”

Ella laughed, thinking Kyler’s family was sweet. Real.

Lisa turned to Ella. “I have lived with men for almost my entire life. I’m not nosy. I am simply well mannered and talk to people.”

Ella laughed, stepping into stride with Lisa. She glanced over her shoulder to Kyler, and warmth crossed his features, and something else she couldn’t quite place. He seemed to be happy that he could share his family with her.

She returned the smile and chuckled a second later as the little zombie attacked Kyler. Sexy. Good with kids. Devilishly kinky. Lord, he was perfect. He shared so much of himself with her, asking for very little in return. As much as this moment felt good, she couldn’t ignore the pang of guilt inside.

You share nothing with him …

Twenty minutes later, and after a round of questions from Kyler’s mother about Ella’s life, which she kept to simple facts, an easy comfort slid into her. The big glass of wine helped, too.

She finished cutting the green pepper, glancing at Kyler out of the kitchen window and into the backyard. She smiled as he chased the little zombie around, pretending to be a zombie himself.

“He likes you.”

Ella turned, finding Kyler’s mother smiling. She replied, “Well, I like him, too.”

“He hasn’t brought a lady home to meet the family in a long time.” His mother started cutting up some red pepper next to Ella. “How long have you two being seeing each other?”

“A couple weeks now,” Ella admitted. Musing to herself that she couldn’t possibly say, We’re not seeing each other. Your son is opening my world to the greatest sexual adventures of my life.

She grabbed another green pepper and started cutting. As the knife sliced through the pepper, she pondered her relationship with Kyler. He made it seem that bringing friends to his family’s house was a regular occurrence. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

The scared part of her didn’t like that he took such a big step forward. The stronger part of her heart melted that he’d thought to bring her there—to share this part of his life with her.

From day one, she’d been fighting getting attached to him, wanting to keep it all casual, but Kyler had simply woven a spell over her so naturally. She felt safe with him. He made waking up a little easier than it had been before. He made her forget about her loss in her life, and he also made her forget about her emotional and physical scars.

Past all of that, she cared for Kyler.

More than a friend, if she were being honest with herself.

Most of all, today he’d given her something that she’d deeply missed. Being around a family. Her throat thickened as she finished with the green pepper and put it in the basket to put on the grill. Restraining the tightness in her chest, she asked Kyler’s mother, “Do you need any more help?”

“No, thank you. I’m glad we got to know each other without the boys getting in the way.” His mother smiled in that warm way that Ella had missed, a smile that belonged only to a mother. “It’s a beautiful day. Go enjoy.”

Tears threatened to rise, but Ella restrained them. Perhaps she’d forgotten what having loved ones around was like. Now she remembered the loss, the longing for her family, and the happy moments she had with them. “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?”

“Down the hall. Third door on the right.”

“Thank you.” Ella turned, her chin quivering. She hurried her steps to get into the bathroom before the tears came.

Once in the bathroom, she shut the door and locked it.

She moved to the oak vanity and stared into the mirror, tears sliding down her face. Looking into her red-rimmed eyes, she knew it wasn’t so much being around family that hurt; she had that with Rory’s family. But being with Kyler’s family reminded her of the time before Rory’s father died, when life was uncomplicated.

Before everything had changed.

A sudden knock on the door startled her.

“Ella?” Kyler’s voice sounded muffled from the other side.

She quickly wiped her tears, then the knock came again. “Please let me in.”

Another few seconds passed and she pulled herself together before she moved to the door. She unlocked it and forced a smile. “Yes?”

Kyler’s eyes widened, alarmed. “Why are you crying?” He pushed inside the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Then he gathered her in his arms, holding her tight against his chest. “Christ, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

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